Houston in the News

Citing Houston's strong culinary and cultural landscape, some of the country's top publications are calling the city a prime place to visit these days. Scroll below to see a selection of the headlines and accompanying articles.

"Anyone from little kids to great-grandparents can have a good time because there is such a diverse lineup of activities." The event “has plenty to offer all comers – even if the rodeo itself isn’t up your alley.”

“None of Texas’ big cities has undergone a bigger transformation than Houston this decade. The concrete jungle is turning green faster than you can say ‘Sam Houston’… While green spaces keep residents happy, the top-shelf art scene draws visitors from around the world.”

“There are all sorts of opportunities for millennials, and they won’t have to spend every bit of their paycheck just to live.”

Insider magazine20 US Cities Every Foodie Needs to Visit in Their Lifetime
September 2017

“Houston has always been renowned for its steak and barbecue, but thanks to enterprising chefs like Chris Shepherd and Brian Caswell, it's finally earning a place on the map of America's best food towns.”

“The story of how his city turned from a town of oil industry roughnecks and white blue-collar workers into a major political centrifuge for immigration reform, demographic analysts say, is nothing less than the story of the American city of the future.”

"Houston is like New York City with its density of mom and pop ethnic restaurants. It has huge areas of sprawl with malls and strip centers where no English is spoken and you can find kumquat trees, bootlegged electronics, and food carts selling fried chicken, crawfish, and noodles."

"The famous Texas hospitality makes for a fun-filled visit but Houston is also full of surprises — it can rightfully claim the most diverse community in the US, as the workforce that staffs the oil and gas industries is a proper melting pot of nationalities."

"Perhaps no one knows the nooks and crannies of Houston as well as Omar Lopez. The singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist spends most of his nights performing at various hot spots around the city with his cover band, Goodtime Muffin."

"For the second time in 13 years, H-Town hosts the sports world's biggest show. Whether you're a hardcore football enthusiast so devoted that you don't care which team plays in Super Bowl LI, or you're just tagging along with ardent fans, the Bayou City clearly has festive diversions for you."

ReutersHouston's Downtown Revamped in Time for Super Bowl
January 2017

"The downtown renovations were going to happen regardless of the Super Bowl...but when Houston was awarded this year's game in 2013, it gave the city a deadline."

"The former New York Giant and Emmy Award-winning television personality was born there, and his parents still call it home. “There’s a lot of great stuff in Houston. People have misconceptions. They think it’s cowboys riding around on horses, but it’s a fun, advanced city.” He shares some favorite sites."

"With robust international influences from a diverse population, the sprawling metropolis offers plenty of diverse neighborhoods to explore, along with exotic cuisines, of-the-moment boutiques, and innovative art offerings."

Chicago TribuneWith or Without Super Bowl, Houston is a Winner
January 2017

"The nation's fourth-largest city is more complex than you probably think. Its unexpected quirks — an obsession with art cars, a fine wine auction tied to its famed rodeo — defy the 10-gallon hat and mechanical bull stereotypes."

"Houston, is, in fact, about as multicultural a city as exists in the country. Houston has been, from what I experienced, particularly if not more welcoming to immigrants and refugees from all over the world than most other cities I know."

"For many travelers, Texas cuisine is synonymous with steak houses and barbecue, but Houston, in particular, offers so much more. One of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, Houston has an exciting culinary scene that boasts an array of cultural choice, from Iraqi kabobs and Indonesian fried rice to Vietnamese pho and Mexican fajitas."

"Football fandom touches down in Space City for February's Super Bowl. But the big game lasts only a few hours in a city full of grit and roughneck charm."

Toronto SunHouston's Food Scene is Sizzling -- And so are the Attractions
October 2016

"Thanks to liberal land use policies, and a huge influx of immigrants from around the globe, Houston is credited with having the most restaurants per capita in the world as well as being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the United States."

Thrillist Best US Cities to Spend a Big Wekend without Going Broke
October 2016

"Houston wants to have you over. The city has built more hotel rooms in the past year than anywhere in America not called New York."

"There’s more to Houston than meets the eye. Yes, Space Center Houston is spectacular, especially for adults who’ve always dreamed of interstellar travel. And yes, it’s home to the Houston Astros and Rockets, but outside of space and sports, there’s a funky little town hidden in one of the country’s metropolitan cities—the fourth-largest, to be exact.."

"After 76 hours... Houston seemed less sprawling and faceless. It became more like one welcoming neighborhood, albeit enormous, from the offbeat Montrose area to the city’s rambling Chinatown -- delicious evidence of the city’s status as the most diverse metropolitan area in the country."

"Named after General Sam Houston...the city has long been touted as a hub for business, particularly when it comes to oil. Unbeknownst to many, the city has struck it rich in areas the rest of us can enjoy as well."

"Whether you like museums, parks or unique adventures, Houston offers many great things to see and do. From culinary tours and cooking classes, to championship golf and indoor skydiving, couples can plan a fun weekend getaway in the city."

"Houston will surprise you. The city has been referred to as a modern day Ellis Island, where more than 145 languages are spoken. The sprawling metropolis known for traffic and Tex-Mex is also home to next year’s Super Bowl and has one of the most diverse populations in the nation."

"The city I knew the least surprised me the most. Houston, where have you been all my (food) life? Your best Vietnamese cooking returns me to Saigon, and some of your Chinese menus rival those I’ve dipped into in Beijing."

"Research shows that Chinese visitors are choosing Houston first and foremost really to shop. They come to the Galleria, the fourth-largest mall in the United States with nearly 400 stores and two hotels. The mall is also undergoing a $250 million expansion - everything bigger in Texas."

"What you know about Houston is likely based on what you think you know about Texas (i.e. stereotypes). Quentin Long eschews 10-gallon hats and cowboy boots to discover this most underestimated of American cities."

"Like many cities across the United States, Houston is in the midst of a renaissance — an ethnic and cultural transformation, if you will. In fact, it’s now the most diverse city in the United States, even surpassing the likes of New York City and Los Angeles."

"This big-business town has always had a soft spot for world-class art: Its oak-tree-lined Museum District has 20 institutions, including the privately assembled Menil Collection, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the non-denominational Rothko Chapel."

"My recent weekend in downtown Houston revealed vibrant throngs attracted to popular new places for eating, drinking, and relaxing. I found plenty of out-of-town visitors in my midst, as well as Houstonians enjoying the ease of hopping on Metro Rail Houston for the quick light-rail trip into the central business district for an afternoon or evening of play."

"Explore Houston's vibrant dining culture with a stroll down trendy Westheimer Road, where farm-to-table joints like
Underbelly and Uchi line the walkable street
just begging for a sustainable food tour."

"The rodeo, which welcomed nearly 2.5 million visitors in 2014, also features livestock and horse shows, kids activities, an array of dining options and a giant Western "shopping mall" filled with clothing, jewelry, leather goods and crafts."

"Over the past decade, the USA's fourth-largest city has quietly become not just a powerhouse of intellect and culture in Texas, but a major player on the world stage. The Bayou City's economic boom and urban renaissance have made Houston not just a magnet for travelers, but a permanent residence for many casual visitors."

"The pace, the enormity, the glistening monoliths...you don't so much enter Houston as you get drawn into it...Whenever I visit Houston, I feel like I'm entering a world of science fiction, a sensation that makes sense as you peel back the concrete layers of the city and tap into Houston's humanity and cultural diversity."

"Houston is synonymous with Bun B. Any hip hop enthusiast knows that Houston's reputation on the rap scene wouldn't be what it is today without the help of Bernard Freeman - better known to the world as Bun B."

"Houston is a fast-changing city. Or, as Greg Ortale, persident and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, puts it: 'If you haven't been to Houston in the last five years, then you haven't really been to Houston'."

"But you shouldn't dismiss Houston so easily; the Bayou City is an economic juggernaut. It's by far the country's No. 1 job creator (...). Add a thriving restaurant and cultural scene, and you've got a winning case for Houston as the best city in America."

"The place every astronaut knows by name has plenty of out-of-this-world offerings. Whether dining, shopping, soaking in culture, or enjoying nightlife, you'll be over the moon in America's fourth largest city."

Start planning your trip to Houston

with this must-have guide that covers the city's best attractions and sightseeing.